| Lynnwood Event Center | |
| Address: | 3711 196th Street Southwest |
| Location: | Lynnwood, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates: | 47.8215°N -122.2837°W |
| Owner: | Lynnwood Public Facilities District |
| Operator: | Oak View Group |
| Built: | 2004–2005 |
| Opened: | April 30, 2005 |
| Construction Cost: | $31 million |
| Total Space: | 53985square feet |
The Lynnwood Event Center is a suburban convention center located in Lynnwood, Washington, near Seattle. The $31 million facility opened in 2005 and is managed by Oak View Group (OVG). The convention center was first proposed in the 1980s, but was rejected by voters on three occasions; the formation of a public facilities district in 1999 funded its construction.[1]
Lynnwood, historically a bedroom community of Seattle and nearby Everett, began pursuing a convention center and performing arts venue in the late 1960s.[2] Boosters from the Edmonds Community College attempted to lure a state-sponsored "festival center" in 1977, but failed to garner support over a site near Federal Way.[3] [4] A 3,000-seat arts-and-convention center on the college campus was also proposed in 1980, but failed to receive funds from the Washington State Legislature.[2] [5] [6] In the November 1982 election, voters in south Snohomish County (including Lynnwood and nearby cities) rejected the formation of a special district to develop the arts-and-convention center, and also repealed a local sales tax, planned to be used to fund its construction.[7] [8] The boosters later decided against scheduling another public vote on the arts-and-convention center,[9] and ultimately decided in 1985 to split the projects into two: a performing arts center on the college campus, and a convention center elsewhere in Lynnwood.[10] A ballot measure was attempted again in 1988, but failed because of low voter turnout.[11]
In 1995-96 The South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, representing over 800 businesses in the county, conducted a feasibility study to build a convention center. Several sight locations were viewed such as the Holiday Inn location on 128th in Everett and the Chevron gas station on the corner of 44th & 200th St. in Lynnwood. The Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in laying the ground work for the future convention center. A second, major campaign to build an 800-seat, $45 million arts-and-convention center in Lynnwood began in 1998.[12] The proposal was sent to local voters in May 1998, with mixed support from politicians, and was rejected by 75 percent.[13] In 1999, the city government established a public facilities district, a type of local special district that would be able to fund a convention center using a state sales tax rebate.[14] The estimated cost of the 80000square feet convention center led the city to reconsider its plans in 2000,[15] instead opting for a smaller, 35000square feet facility costing $32 million.[16] The final design for the convention center, with 55000square feet of total meeting space, was unveiled to the public in November 2002.[17] The convention center was funded by $27.9 million in issued bonds, as well as rebate sales taxes from the state government and hotel-motel taxes collected by the county and city.[18]
Construction on the convention center began in October 2003.[19] Howard S. Wright Companies was selected to build the facility, while SMG was awarded the rights to operate it.[20] The convention center opened on April 30, 2005,[19] and immediately came into competition with the Everett Events Center (now Xfinity Arena) in downtown Everett.[21] [22] After completion of the convention center, the Lynnwood Public Facilities District attempted to build a 200-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel on an adjacent property.[23] The proposed hotel was scrapped in 2008 after the main developer withdrew from negotiations, citing the then-ongoing financial crisis; by then, the convention center had an annual attendance of 82,000 people.[24] [25] A 155-room hotel was eventually built on the property a decade later under a different developer in conjunction with an eight-story apartment building.[26]
In its first decade in operation, the Lynnwood Convention Center hosted over 3,900 events and a total attendance of 753,000 people. An estimated $24.8 million in economic impact was generated by the convention center in 2014.[19] [27] The facility was renamed the Lynnwood Event Center in 2022 as part of plans to develop an entertainment district in the surrounding area.[28]
The Lynnwood Event Center is located on 196th Street Southwest, a block west of Interstate 5 in central Lynnwood. It is southwest of the Alderwood Mall, and within the city's planned city center.[18]
The convention center has a total floor space of 53985square feet, and a grand hall that can accommodate 1,200 people.[27] [29] The facility has been managed by Oak View Group since 2022.[30]